2. analog
  3. 163962-155552

The best TT system for under 30K

Hi agoners! 

I have been floored by Kuzma Stabi XL DC with 4 points TA on a recent audition. It was extremely analog sounding, insane details with speed, beat and clarity that made me wonder if I am listening to a live concert, just can’t help my toe tapping. Was comparing the sound to the top of the line Accuphase CD player with the same rest of system and it was no contest. 

Switching from Accuphase CD player to Kuzma XL DC was sounding like adding a pair of subwoofer and going up 2-3 levels on the rest of the system. Mind you the rest of the system was Accuphase E-650 class A integrated that should favor the Accuphase same brand CD player but that wasn’t the case. The speaker was Kerr Acoustics K300 under 10K entry level bookshelf and the sound of the entire entry level system armed with Kuzma XL DC beat the hell out of the entire super high end system the dealer has on the other listening room with Avalon PM3 speakers, Accuphase A-250 monos, Audionet Stern Preamp with Accuphase CD player. 

However obviously I cannot afford the whole set of Kuzma XL DC considering I am also in the process of upgrading my existing system. What will be the closest contender in the US$30.000 retail price range that has the same sonic signature as Kuzma XL DC? 

Thanks in advance for any advices!!
uwiikz
terry9
2,353 posts
 
@rauliruegas 

Well, I think it's likely that the OP will continue to enjoy his exceptional cartridge long into the future. Why? Because I fell in love with the planar sound as soon as I heard it fifty years ago, and that hasn't changed. I wanted a Koetsu from the first time I heard one, 40 years ago. That hasn't changed either. I wanted a good belt drive from the first time I heard one of those, 20 years ago. Even that hasn't changed, despite lots of auditions. Linear tracking tonearm too. Maybe the OP has a similar mentality.

You don't agree, doubtless for similarly good reasons. Shall we agree to leave it there? You have your viewpoint, I have mine?
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
@chakster - I think your taking shots at the high end through this new user's thread is a little misplaced. You seem to know old MM cartridges well based on what I've seen and that's a valuable contribution.

 The turntable this person bought is a good one based on my experience with it. Perhaps you should take your own advice, to the effect "that there is not such things as "best" for everyone, you can only try and compare yourself." The poster did get to hear the table and is buying the set up at what is apparently a good price. Don't begrudge him that.

I read the title of the topic and that's enough, $30k for turntable is insane even if "it's good based on your opinion". 

In my opinion there are many more turntables, cartridges and tonearms at better price and with better performance. 

And I don't understand why any person would like to buy 1 expensive cartridge based on other people opinions instead of trying 5 different cartridges at the same total price to make his own opinion about them. 

Anyway, this is just my opinion. 

P.S. Apart from the MM you have mentioned above, I own and use some of the best LOMC cartridges including Miyajima, Miyabi, Ikeda, FR, Dynavector, Shelter and others.  In my opinion a cartridge with $5000+ retail price is insane too (no cartridge can justice that price tag). 


terry9
2,353 posts
 
I think I see what's going on.

Midway down the first page, the OP reports that the exact analogue front end that he fell in love with, the exact same demo unit, was suddenly offered at a price he could afford. He accepted.

Perhaps we came to different conclusions because we were using different information?
ebm
9,311 posts
 
TW ACUSTIC RAVEN AC1 with Black Night feet,arm board,platter(all copper),3 motor unit,copper 3 motor cover and TW ACUSTIC 10.5 tonearm the best by far.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
rauliruegas
13,103 posts
 
Terry : The OP is a " young " gentleman ( 40 . ) that's in the learning proccess we all pass through and that almost never really end.

He posted here:

""  ZERO trace of SS sound, I could’ve sworn it was tube midrange sound. I never thought I would ever ever consider SS in my system but the low-ish end system armed with Kuzma made me a convert in a few minutes. ....... and I never ever ever favor SS sound even on megabucks system until now, Kuzma really made me hear the best quality of an SS system.   ""

He is not " married " yet to a kind of audio item and this " single behavior "  goes in his favor.

You are married with: Koetsu, planars, LT tonearms and the like and those kind of " marries " always  are a limitation, makes the game-over. At least for me.

I'm not married with any audio kind of item, only with MUSIC and my MUSIC priorities. I like to " play " in this audio game as long as I can.

The OP needs " land " to walk and then to run on it with out limitations.

Btw, @ebm  , the OP already bougth his analog rig.

R.
More to discover